The Flower Scents, Shapes, and Surprising Personalities of Orchids and Blooms
I am sitting in my sunroom filled with light and scent, the scent of beautiful orchids in bloom. I don’t know if you know about orchids. I am sure you have seen the big, fancy ones in the grocery store, loaded with large blooms and standing tall on their long stems. Those are the phalaenopsis orchids. They are bred for show so that you will be stopped, gaze at them, and be tempted to take one home. They will last for a long time. In fact, I have a large pink one on the mantel that has been there for over a month and still looks great. Some of the blossoms faded about a week ago and were removed, but the second stem is going strong.
What I am enjoying now is a very different collection of orchids. Orchids are incredibly prolific. There are over 25,000 species of orchids. They come in different sizes, different shapes, and different colors. In fact, if you designed one, I bet you could find the parents to bring your design to life. Orchid growers are making crosses and creating new looks all the time.
The sunroom has a small offering of different varieties. One of my favorites, loaded with hundreds of tiny blooms, smells like chocolate. Think of it. I am sitting in a room full of chocolate and not gaining a pound. Another one on the other side of the room has a sweet, gentle scent like the perfume you would wear to the Ball. I wish I had a Ball to attend so I could make a corsage.
Somehow, flowers can lift our mood and change our perspective. Is that their intent? Are they put here to cause us to reflect? One certainly has to stop and pay attention. The house around the corner has a hydrangea bush that is loaded with pink flowers that you want to sink your nose into.
Flowers delight the senses. They come in many different shapes and sizes, a variety of scents, and seem to challenge us to plunge our faces into them. The peonies by the side of the house keep saying, “Pick me.” So, I do, and along with the beautiful blossoms come a few ants as well. The ants serve to open the petals, so they are quite functional. However, you don’t want them in the house, so you can shake them off or plunge the blooms into a bucket of water before bringing them in.
You could have a different scent in every room. The beauty and complexity of the flower is also a delight. When you study a flower, you will learn about design and pattern as well as color and texture. The fragrance can vary wildly. We did manage to buy an orchid that smelled like poop. Trust me, that one hit the garbage can pretty quickly.
Explore related reflections:
The Right Mindset blog
Seasonal reflections
Therapeutic approaches
Learn more from trusted botany and horticulture resources:
Royal Horticultural Society – Orchids
American Orchid Society
Missouri Botanical Garden
If you are navigating emotional transitions, sensory grounding, or the restorative power of nature, therapy can offer clarity and support. Learn more about individual therapy in Maryland and DC or explore therapeutic approaches that support insight, resilience, and meaningful growth.
By Dr. Gloria K Vanderhorst
